Drive chain



Sept. 28 {1926. 1,601,309 7 c. s. JENKINS DRIVE CHAIN Filed Oct. 14, 1924 Ill I I flTTOR/VE) Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL S. JENKINS, OF WHITE HAVEN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WILMOT ENGI- NEERING COMPANY, HAZLE' ION, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

DRIVE CHAIN.

Application filed October 14, 1924.' Serial No. 743,519.

ing or removing a link or for some other purpose. It isobvious, therefore, thata construction of chain whichwould facilitate the disconnection thereof at any point between two adjoining links for the purpose indicated would be a feature of material advantage.

The general object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a chain comprising a1ternate single and double link members with means whereby upon the relative longitudinal adjustment of the oppositeside members of a double link and between the adjoining single link members and the double link member one of the pintles may be removed to efiect disconnection of one end of the double linkmember from one end of the single link members connected thereto.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a construction of chain in which a pintle having become worn may be reversed in its position so as to provide unworn surfaces thereof for engaging with links which are connected together thereby. I

To these. and other ends the invention comprehends the construction and arrangement as hereinafter described in detail, particularly pointed out in the claims. and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which I have shown certain convenient forms of embodiment of the said-invention.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a view in plan of a section or portion of drive chain embodying my invention; a I

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view partially in top plan and partially in horizontal section of the portion of chain shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but with the adjoining links adjusted so as to permit the removal of a pintle;

Y Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation with ad-' joining links adjusted to thepo'sitions shown in Fig. 3; M Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of one of the sides of a double link member such as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and of a pintle adapted to be employed for connecting the links together; and

Flgs. (i, 7 and 8 are similar views showing slight modifications of the construction.

Referring to the drawing z- 1 and 2 designate the opposite sides of a double link member and 3 the alternate solid or single link members. The link members are connected together by means of pintles 1 terminating, at their opposite ends in rectangular-shaped heads 5 as shown. Referring now to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, of the drawing it will he noted that each of the side members 1 and 2 is provided upon the outer side of one end portion thereof with bead or rim-like portions 6 and 7 located adjacent opposite edges, the outer ends of which are connected by a raised crosswise extended portion 8 forming a shoulder against which one of the heads 5 of a pintle 4 may contact when the chain is in extended position- At its opposite end each of the said side members is provided with a raised portion 10 constituting a shoulder similar to they shoulder 8 and with a projection 11 adjacent one edge which is spaced a distance from the raised portion 10 sufficient to permit an end portion of a head 5 readily to enter the said space." Each of the side members is provided with longitudinally extending slots 12-, the innerends of which are the side members of an intermediate or connecting double link. v

It will be noted that the side members of each double link are soassembled in the complete chain that; one side member is in reverse position with respect to the other side member; that is, the raised portions 6, 7 and 8 of one side member occupy positions at one end of the link and the corresponding parts of the other side member occupy positions at the opposite end of the link. Hence the portions 6, 7 and 8 of one side member are directly opposed in relation to the portions 10 and 11 of the other side member. If it be desired to disconnect one end of a single link member from theoverlapping ends of the side members of a double .iink the links involved should be adjusted longitudinally with respect to each other in the manner indicated in Fig. 8 of the drawing.

It will be observed by reference to that figure that the single link member 3 of the right hand side of the figures of the drawing together withthe side member 2 and the pintle 4- connecting the said link 3 and the side members 1 and 2 of the adjoining double link are adjusted toward the left. The side member 1, the single link 8 at the left hand side of the figure of the drawing and the pintle 4 connecting the same are at such times heldfagainst movement so that their relation to each other remain-s unchanged. Such relative adjustments of the link members and of the pintles result in the removal of the heads 5 of the pintlcs from between the bead-like portions 6 and 7. After having been adjusted to such positions the pintles are permitted to be turned into positions with the heads 5 extending longitudinally or lengthwise of the links and in parallel relation to the slots 12 and '15-. When in such position a pintle may be removed in either direction lengthwise, one of the heads thereof being drawn through the said slots thereby disconnecting the overlapping ends of the adjoining single or double links.

In a chain constructionembodying my invention it will be seen that means are afforded whereby the adjoining ends of any two adjacent links may be readily disconnected from each other but at the same time the construction is such, by reason of the presence of the bead-like or raised portions 6 and 7 that accidental disconnection of adjoining ends of adjacent links is not likely to occur.

In the construction as indicated in Fig. 6 the parts designatedb, 6, 7, 8, 10, 1.1 and 12 are identical with the parts correspondingly numbered in the previous figures of the drawing. In said Fig. 6, however, the lower end of the space between projection i1 and the projection or raised portion 10.

is closed means of 'a connecting raised portion 20. By reason of the presence of such raised portion 20 it is observed that one end of the head opposite the head 5 shown in said figure must be shorter as'indicated at 21. j I

The construction as shown in Fig. 7 dif'- fers from that shown in Fig. 6 in that the raised portion 6 is omitted or removed leaving only the portions 7 and 8. The portions 10, 11 and 20 and the openings 12 are identical with the corresponding parts shown in Fig. 6. It will be observed that one end of each of the heads of the pintle shown in Fig. 7 is slightly shorter than the struction asshown in Fig. '8 differs from that shown in Fig. 7 only in that the portion 20 is omitted leaving the construction in that respe'ctth-e same as in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive. One of the heads 5 of the pintle shown in Fig. 8 is symmetrical in character. that is 'to say, the end portions thereof project equal distances. from the body proper of the pin-'tle. One end of the opposite 'head, however, as indicated 21 is shorter than the opposite-end thereof as is apparent.

In the use of a chain of the character indicated it is found [that in practise the pintles become worn at three separate points or regions. For instance, referring to the left hand pintle shown in Fig. 3, it will be apparent that in use the said 'pintle would become worn at a and Z) by reason of the contact with those portions with the end 'portions of the side members 1 and 2 of the double link with which the said pintle is in engagement while the central portion of the opposite side of the pintle at 0 would become worn by reason of the contact thereof with the end portion of the single link 3 through the slot or opening of which the said pintle extends. The wearing of the 'pintles allows or causes the length of'the chain to increase which in many if not all instances isobjectionable. This objection can be cured to a certain extent at least by turning the piutles so that'th'e worn portion a, b and 0 she ll. contact with the end portions of the links which areconnected by the 'said int-1e. The description whichfis directed to the left hand pintle shown in Fig. 8 is true with respect to every other pi'ntl'e which may be embodied in the structure. By thus turning the pintles so as to cause the engaging portion of the connected adjoining ends-to bear upon new and unworn portions thereof the length of the chain 'm ay' be shortened to the extent of-the sumof the depths of the'depression or grooves which may have been worn into the said pintles. V

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to-secur'e by Letters Patent is: j v

l. A drive cliain I comprising alternate double andsingleiinks, eachfo f sa'id links being provided with slots extending longi tudinally thereof and each of the side members of each double link being provided with bead-like portions upon the outer side of one end portion and with a projection adjacent its opposite end upon the outer side thereof which extends substantially across the width of the said member and also having a projection upon one edge portion thereof in spaced relation to said projection, said projections forming a notch, and pintles for con necting the adjoining ends of adjacent links, the said pintles having heads upon their opposite ends, which heads are adapted to cooperate with the said bead-like portions and the said projections, substantially as described.

2. A drive chain comprising single and double links alternately arranged, each of which is provided with slots extending longitudinally thereof and one end portion of each of the side members of each double link being provided with bead-like portions which are situated adjacent the edges of the outer sides thereof, and each side member of each double link being provided at its opposite end upon its outer side with a projection extending across the same and a projection adjacent one edge in spaced relation to the last named projection forming a notch, the bead-like portions upon one side member of each double link in the assembled chain structure being positioned at the opposite end of the double link from the corresponding portion of theopposite side member, pintles for pivotally connecting the adjoining over-lapping ends of adjacent single and double links, said pintles having heads, one of which is shorter than the other, the shorter head being adapted to engage one of the side members of a double link between the said bead-like portions, one end of the opposite head thereof being adapted to rest within the notch adjacent one edge of the opposite side member, and the said side members of each double link being relatively adjustable with respect to each other and each side member adapted to be adjusted in relation to one of the solid link members connected thereto.

3. A drive chain comprising alternate clouble and single links, each of the said links having slots extending therethrough and longitudinally thereof, pintles for connecting the adjoining ends of adjacent links, the said pintles having heads thereon for retaining them in engagement with said slots for ret aining the said links in connected relation with respect to each other and the outer sides of the side members of each double link be-- ing provided with means for preventing relative rotation between the said members and the said pintles, and the send side members of each double link adapted to be adjusted longitudinally with respect to each other, one side member and an adjoining single link being relatively adjustable longitudinally and the said other side member and the other adjoining single link being relatively adjustable longitudinally to permit rotation of a pintle with respect to the side members of said double link into position in which it may be removed.

I 4. A drive chain comprising alternate double and single links, each of said links being provided with slots extending longitudinally thereof, and pintles for connecting the adjoining ends of the links, the said pintles having retaining heads on their opposite ends, one of said heads being shorter than the other, one end portion of each of the side members of each doublelink being provided with bead-like portions which are situated adjacent the edges of the outer sides thereof and with a projection adjacent its opposite end upon the, outer side thereof which extends substantially across the width of the said member, and a projection adjacent one edge in spaced relation to the last named projection forming a notch, the shorter head of said pintles being adapted to engage one of the side members of a double link between the said bead-like portions, one end of the opposite head thereof being adapted to rest within the aforesaid notch adjacent oneedge of the opposite side member.

5. A drive chain comprising single links connected by means of double links, each of said single and double links having slots extending therethrough and longitudinally thereof, pintles for connecting the overlapping ends of adjoining single and double links, the said pintles having heads thereon for retaining the same in engagement with said links for retaining the latter in connected relation with respect to each other, the outer sides of the side members of each double link being provided with means for preventing relative rotation between the said members and the said pintles when the links are in extended position, adjoining single links being adjustable longitudinally toward each other, such adjustment allowing the side members of the intermediate double link to be adjusted longitudinally with respect to each other and the pintles to be adjusted toward each other to permit rotation of a pintle with respect to the side members of said double link into position to permit its removal.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto signed my name this 2nd day of Oct. A. D., 1924.

CARL S. JENKINS. 

